Improvement in corn-harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

IMPROVEMENT IN'CORN-HRVESTERS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 91,964, dated June 29, 1869.

l" To all whom t't may conceritr Beit Vknown that We, JOHN lorrmnnRenaV and'IRA M. POFEENBERGER, of Urbana, in the county ot' Champaign and State ot' Ohio, liaveinvented anew and Improved Corn, Cane, and'Hemp Harvester; and we do hereby de clare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying dra w ings, forming part of this specification, in Which`` Figure lis a rear View of our improved liarvester. Fig. 2 is a side vieiv ot' the same. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the saine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention has for its object to furnish a convenient and eiit'ective machine for .cutting and shocking corn, cane, and hemp, which shall be so constructed and arrangedas to do its work thoroughly and well; and it consists in the construction and combination ofthe various parts, as hereinafter more fully described.

vA represents the horizontal frameof themachine, which is supported upon the lwheels B and O and the guide-Wheel D, which supports the dri vers seatE, and which is pivoted to the frame F, to. which ,the tongue is attached. (Tongue not shown in thevdratvings.) Y

Gv represents thc cutters, which are operated by the pulley H, rigidly attachedto the shalt I, which revolves in bearings in the frame A, and to the other end of' which should1 be attached a gear-wheel lneshing into the gear- Wheel c', attached t-o or formed upon the side ot' the wheel C, asshown in Fig. 2.

I' is the reel, by which the corn, cane, or hemp to be cut is swept back against the cut ter G and caused to fall upon the platform of' the machine. The reel I is driven from the Wheel C by the chain or belt J, which passes around the pulley K, attached to the projecting journalof the reelshaft,around the pulley L, formed upon or attached to the hub ofthe wheel C, and around the guide-pulleys M, at-

tached to the'frame or posts N, by which the reel l' is supported.

O are fingers or arms projecting in front of the frame A, for the purpose ot raising the in clined stalks and bringing the stalks into proper position to, be operated upon by the cutters G.

P is an endless apron, which forms the platl'orm ofthe machine, and which passes around the rollers or pulleys Q, which are pivoted to the frame A. The endless apron P should be provided with cross-slats to assist in carrying the corn, cane, or hemp across the machine.

R is an endless apron which passes around the rollers S, pivoted Ato the inclined frame T, which is attached to and supported by'the frame A and vertical trame U.

The endless apron R should have cross slats or bars attached to it, said slats being provided with spikes or lingers projecting through the spaces between the bars V, to carry the corn, cane, or hemp up the inclined trame T,l

so as to fall into the box N'.

X is a guard, which is supported in an inclined position in front ofthe inclined bars V by the springs Y in such a position that the stalks ofoorn,lcane, or hemp may pass lbeneath around the pulley B', attached to the'journal 1 ot' oneot the rollers S, and around the pulley O', attached to the shaft D', which revolves in the frame A, and to the inner end ot which should be attached a gear-wheel meshing into the gear-Wheel o', formed upon or attached to the side ofthe Wheel O. The chain or belt Z also passes around the movable pulleyl E', pivoted to a short post or standard, W, attached to the frame A, and which is connected with the platform F' by a rod, G', so that the operator' fro in his seat H' upon the said platform may adjust the pulley E' to tighten or loosen the chain or belt Z, according as he desires that the endless aprons P andI R should be operated or not.

. I2 is a Wheel pivoted to the lower end. of the standard or movable post J', which slides up and down in a keeper or guide attached to the vertical frame U, and which is adjustably supported in place by the pawl K', which is operated to fasten or release the said post by the rod L', which passes up through the plat form F' into such a position that it can be conveniently operated by the attendant from his seatl.

a l @meca The wheel I2 is intended to support the frame ofthe machine when the receiving-box is operated to form the shock.

M' is a crane, the vertical shaft of which is 4pivoted to the franie of the machine, and to the horizontal arm of which is attached the box N'. The box N' is open at the top and at bothends, and is made in three parts, a', a2, and as. The part a' is rigidly attached to the horizontal arm of the crane M', and is provided with a levera4, by means of whicll the said box N' and crane M' may be swung out andrin by the operator 'from his seat H'.

The bottom ot' the part a2 is hinged to the bottom of the part a', as shown in Fig. 3, so that the said part n2 may be dropped to allow the shock of corn, cane, or hemp to be dropped in a-vertical position and uponvits butt-end. The part a2 is raised and supported by the jointed lever O', which is pivoted to thestationary part n' of the box N. The forward end of the lever O'vrest-s against the bottom of the part n2 of said box N', so as to raise and c support said part, and its rear or jointed end passes up through a hole in the bottom of the said part a', and is provided with a Ynotch 0r catch to catch upon the said bottom ,and hold the part a2 in a horizontal position. The part at is hinged to the vertical side of the part n' in the manner of a door, is heldin position when closed by the catch a5, attached to the part a2, and is operated or opened and closed by the lever a, as shown in Fig. 3. The box N' is secured in place, when swung into position to receive the stalks of corn, cane, or hemp, by the catch P', which is operated to secure or release the said box by the rod Q',- which extends back into such a position that it maybe conveniently reached and operated by the attendant from his 'seat H. y

R' isa board or plate, which is rigidly attached' to the vertical frame U in such a position as to close the forward end of the box N' when said box is swung into a positinn to receive the stalks of corn, cane, or hemp7 and keep the butt-ends of said stalks even.

In using the machine, as it is drawn forward the cut stalks fall upon the endless apron P, by which they are carried to the endless 'apron R, which receives them and carries them up j through the space between the guard-boards X and inclined bars V, said stalks sliding upon the said bars V as they are carriedup by the said endless apron R, and falling from said bars V and endless apron R into the box Nl When a sufficient amount of stalks have been received to form a shock the machine is stopped, the catch P' unf'astened, and the box N' swung into a position at right angles with its former position, as shown in red-'in Fig. 3. Thejointcd lock and catch-lever O' is then unifastened, al-l lowing the part n2 of the box N to drop, the shock coming to the ground butt-end first and in a vertical position. The shock of stalks should be bound or tied before releasing the part n? ofthe box N. For convenience in do- A -ing this a spool of cord or twine should be pivoted to ears formed upon or attached to the outer side ot' the part n' of the box N', as shown inA Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As soon as the shock has V by means of the curved springs Y, as herein y desciibed, for the purpose specified.

2. The wheel l2, adjusted upon the lower end of the frame U by means of the toothed post J',

pawl K', and rod L', all arranged as described,

for the purpose of steadying the machine when i thefilled box N' is operated, as herein shown and described.

3. The receivingbox N', constructed, ar` ranged, and operating in combination with th'e crane M', jointed catch-lever O', stationary endboard or plate, R', and endless apron R, Q substantially as herein shown and described, Q

and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination and arrangement of the i wheel E', sliding postor standard W, and rod G' with eachother and with the platform F',

substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.'v

JOHN POFFENBERGER. Y IRA M. POFFENBERGER.

Witnesses MICHAEL GALLIGHER, WM. C.` WHITMER.

The chain Z isagain tightened, and the l" 

